Airplane visualizing device



Nov. 7, 1944.

L. DE FLOREZ AIRPLANE VISUALIZING DEVICE Filed Sept. 2. 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I3 I INVENTOR LUIS .DE FLOREZ Nov. 7, 1944. 1. DE FLOREZ AIRPLANE VISUALIZING mavmca Filed Sept. 2, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LUIS DE FLOREZZ Patented Nov. 7, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y 2,9,61,92 91 H l i AIRPLANE VISUALIZING DEVICE I I Luis d'e Florelz, United States Application September 2, 1942, Serial No.457,038 4 I 20mins. (o1. sag-ii (Granted under the act of March a, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 G. 757)' i The present invention relates to an airplane visualizing device.

At the present time, airplane observers or spotters are usually provided, with silhouettes of various types of airplanes-for comparison with airplanes in flight for the purposes of identification. These silhouettes usually follow the outlines of topplan, front and side elevation drawings. Since the observer is, in many cases, calledupon to identify airplanes that appear only in perspective, the use of silhouettes alone is not, always entirely satisfactory, It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a device for readily visualizing an airplane at any angle of perspective, and a device that may be economically produced when the profiles of the airplane are known.

Also miniature drawings of proposed new models are made, and from these drawings molded or cast models are made. for the purpose of studying the line ,of the proposed aircraft. Tizis procedure takes time and it is verycostly.

Accordingly, the present invention has for its general object the provision of a device which may be defined as a three-dimensional silhouette model, i. e., a device by means of which the silhouette of an aircraft may be viewed from any angle, without the necessity of providing a solid three-dimensional model. More specific objects are the provision of sucha device. by

stamping, die-cutting or. otherwise Working a flat. sheet of suitable material, to form separable pieces of suitable outline, and providedewith the necessary slots. tabs and cut-outs whereby the several pieces may be assembled in interlocking relation to make up the device in question.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following detailed description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and in whch drawings;

Figure 1 is a plan view of a sheet on which are scored or die stamped various members, the members when removed and assembled form my novel aircraft silhouette visualizing device.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the members assembled.

Figure 6 is a perspective View in silhouettelooking down on the device.

Figure-7 isa perspective view in silhouette lookingatthe device from underneath.

Referring to the. drawings, the numeral 8 lfiDresentsa sheet. of thick, heavy material. The

.numeral 9 represents the line that forms the outline portion of anairplane, the lines being stamped, 'die cut'or otherwise weakened in the sheet 8. I The numeral l0 represents in plan an airplane havingcwings H, a fuselage I2, a, tail [3 of substantiallyellipsoidal configuration and projections I4 that simulate motors. Midway the ends of the wings II, is an aperture l5 having slots l6 and H; the slot l6 being in line withapertures l8 that are adjacent the wing tips. I9. 'In :the fuselage I2 is provided an aperture 20, and in the tail I3 is an aperture 2|. Centrally disposed in the leading edge of the wing at 22 is a ,notch 23 The projections it are provided with slots 24 and 25 that form a T shapedconfiguration, the slot 24 having an open mouth 26. The projections 14 areeach further provided with a slot 21, and these slots and those previously mentioned, together with apertures and notches in other members to be described,- all being provided for a purpose to be later set forth.

Thev parts'to be assembled to the member Ill, comprise, a member 28 havingslotslil and 30, an elongated slot 3!, studs .32 and 33, and a portion.p34, of semi-ellipsoidal configuration, that forms .the rudder. A bridgemember is provided, and ithas studs 35. adjaceint its ends, and a central upstanding portion 31 having shoulders 38. .The portion 3Tof the; bridge member 35 is provided with a. slot 39 having an open mouth 40 and a cross slot 4| that is in communication with the slot 39. A strip member 42 is provided and it has a notch 43 and studs 44 and 45. A

trapezoidal member 46 is provided and it has a slot- 41, the slot having an open mouth. There is also provided an elongated member 48 of bullet configuration which has a slot 49, an open mouth 50 and tabs 5|; a pair of members 52 having slots 53 and one side 54 shorter than the other side 56; a pair of members 51 having slots 58 and studs 59; and finally, a, pair of members 60, each of these members having a reduced head portion 6! and slots 62, and 63, the slot 62 hav ing an open mouth 64.

Having enumerated the various members of my novel device, the members are assembled in the following order; however, I wish to have it understood that I do not confine myself to the order of assembly as enumerated. The members are first removed from the sheet 8, illustrated in Figure l, by exerting slight pressure on the members, ready removal of the members being possible due to the outline of the members having been cut entirely through the sheet 8. After the members have been removed, the member 28 is positioned in place on the member H] by sliding the member 28 toward the tail I3, the elongated slot 3| permitting the member 28 to pass rearwardly until the front end wall of the slot 30 engages the notch 23, the stud 32 engaging the slot ll. of the aperture l5, thus locking the member 28 in position.

The bridge member 35 is next positioned on the under side of the member I0, the portion 31 being inserted into the'slot iii of aperture l until the walls of the shoulders 38 engage the end walls 65 of the slot [6, the studs 36 engaging the apertures l8 and locking the bridge member in place. The member 48 is next placed in position, the open mouth 50 and slot 49 engaging the slot 23, the member 48 being pushed rearwardly until the studs 5| engage the slot 4| in the portion 31 of the bridge member 35, the studs as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings extending rearwardly of the rear face of the portion 31. The member 46 is next in the assembly and it is fitted to the member 42, the slot 41 engaging the'notch 43, this assembly is then positioned on the under side of the member ID, the stud 44 engaging the aperture and the stud 45 the front portion of the aperture 2| the end wall 66 of the stud 45 im pinging the wall 61 of the aperture 2|, and at the same time the end wall 68 of the stud 45 impinges the end wall 69 of the stud 33 of member 28. The interlocking of studs 33 and 45 provides a rigid locking means for the rear portions of members 28 and 42. The members that make up the motors being identical, only one motor assembly will be described. The portion 54 of the member 52 is passed through the slot from the under side of the member Ill, until the slot 53 is in line with the slot 25, the portion 56 of member 52 being of greater length than portion 54. The member 52 is then pushed rearwardly until the end wall 10 of the member 52 impinges against the end wall 1| of the slot 25, the side end 12 of the member 52 being uniplanar with the leading edge of the member ID. The member 60 is the next to be placed in position, the mouth 64 of the slot 62 engages the mouth 26 of slot 24 and this member is pushed inwardly until the end walls 13 and 14 are uniplanar with the side walls 15 and 16 of the portion I4 of member In. The member 51 is next to be fitted into position, the slot 58 engaging the slot 21 in line, the member 51 is then pushed rearwardly and during this movement the stud 59 engages the slot 63, the end wall 11 impinging the face of the side end wall 12 of the member 51 and locking the member 51 to the portion M of the member Hi.

My novel aircraft visualizing device is now complete, and in its assembled position it is to be noted that the sheet material is disposed at three different angles, namely, in planes parallel to the longitudinal, transverse and horizontal planes of the device, and due to this arrangement of the members the device when viewed from any angle will simulate an actual airplane in outline. The device when oriented, so that its three axes are disposed in parallel relation to the corresponding axes of an actual plane in flight will produce a visual image of the plane in flight for the purpose of identification or comparison.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor,

What is claimed is:

1. An airplane visualizing device formed of fiat sheet members and comprising horizontal members of irregular shape similar to the irregular outline of a top plan view of an airplane, vertical transverse members of irregular shape similar to the irregular outline of a front elevational view of said airplane, and vertical longitudinal members of irregular shape similar to the irregular outline of a side elevational view of said airplane, whereby said members when assembled simulate the appearance of an airplane corresponding to said view when observed from an angle for purposes of identification and comparison.

2. An airplane visualizing device formed of fiat sheet members and comprising horizontal members irregularly shaped to conform to the top plan view of an airplane, vertical transverse members irregularly shaped to'oonform with the front elevational view of said airplane, vertical longitudinal members irregularly shaped to conform with the side elevational view of said airplane, said members being disposed in planes at right angles to one another whereby said device when oriented to a position wherein said longitudinal, vertical and horizontal members are disposed in planes parallel to the horizontal, vertical and longitudinal axes of said airplane in any position of flight will simulate the appearance of said airplane.

LUIS DE FLOREZ. 

